Any ideas to limit the Christmas spend?

I have a huge (immediate) family and this year we are trying to limit the spending by making a plan - either a spending limit for everyone or each person nominates a present they want (up to a certain amount) and the rest of the family chip in what they can to buy it. Has anyone managed this? How did work? Tips please for co-operating/making it a success (or not)

We decided that we would stop buying for each other once the children came along. We buy for our parents and Grand parents only - otherwise we would end up spending a fortune.We buy something for the Nieces and Nephews or give them money whichever they want.

Problem with not buying for the siblings is the age range - youngest is only 18 and I think he would be a bit miffed to be lumped in with the old marrieds. The other thing is singles have to spend a huge amount on those of us with partners and kids. This why we are struggling there are too many variables (as well as too many people!).

It depends what you mean by 'immediate' family. We only buy for parents, token presents for grandparents and siblings, plus children. For us, that keeps the numbers down.

I think that the secret santa thing can work well (we did it one year that we had a big get together). You do need to make sure that everyone buys into it though. If people 'just buy a little extra' here and there it soon collapses. We also found that it was an idea not to just have one present, but a few little things (doesn't have to be much, selection boxes, etc are good) so that the unwrapping lasts!

Bager, just seen your second post. Do you buy separate presents for each of a couple? That's one way to cut down massively quite easily. A present can be a joint present (DVD or whatever) for both halves of a couple. I've bought presents for a whole family (i.e. parents plus the kids) in the past too - again things like a DVD they all would watch.

As you can tell, my family does not go to town on Christmas presents. We're not one of those families who spend a lot on each person anyway. Birthdays tend to be bigger because more spaced out through the year. It would be seen as a bit 'off' and 'flash' by my relatives to spend too much. LOL.

Oh, we do nice things for each other instead (us adults ). Last year, my sister hosted a little mince pies-and-mulled-wine get together on Xmas Eve, I made Xmas cookies for everyone, my mum took our elderly relatives to a carol concert - that sort of thing.

i did all mine on line this year and/or before the christmas crud hits the shops (giftpackaged tutt for xmas, twice the price etc). we do parents, gps, children, friends' children and adult close friends. Hawkins Bazaar is good for bits and pieces. my little adventure website good for personalised books.

I think the one present for couples is a good plan, though a bit tough to think of what, and I wouldn't include my parents in that though.

The most economical is probably secret santa, but I don't think the others will go for it, and i can already feel the pressure - I know certain people will overspend and then my secret santa gift (at the spend limit or under) will look crap!!

I think a £12 upper limit is okay, but we are the poorest.

Ribena you sound very balanced - the reason me and my mum are trying this is because we felt ill at the expense and excess the last couple of years - and god knows what message it send the children - they were swamped in plastic!

I am going to gently suggest no presents for grown ups, but it make me a bit sad - a bit pathetic, but my mum was still doing me a stocking at 32!! .

Badger I have an immediate family of ten (lots of brothers and sisters).

For the last few years we have jusst done a secret santa. Everyone gets one person, picked out of a hat, and we have a price limit.

Then everyone makes a list of things they want that are within that price limit.

That way, everyone gets one good present that they actually want (or assorted smaller ones but still from their list), instead of us all buying small cheap token presents for everyone.

The first year we did this three of my siblings where students, so the limit was £15 and we got great presents!

This year we can all afford a bit more so the limit is slightly higher.

Next year, we have decided, we will still do the secret santa but among the presents there has to be something second hand and something we have made, just to make the challenge a bit more fun! We will pick names in jan though so we have all year to plan and make and find stuff!

(children are exempt from this, but as DS is the only child it was easy, everyone got him a present )

Oh god I had forgotten the sending to the entire class thing, not sure how it will go down with DD tho'. DH on the other hand has to be forced at gunpoint to write one to his own mother, so he'll be glad.

I'm pretty sure my sister and her partner also get each other presents that they open alone, but as a whole family they are just two seperate people. Last year my sister's partner bought my present. My dad bought his present.

My parents just follow the secret santa thing and don't get each other additional presents.

All of us siblings range in age from 17 to 37, so without the lists it would be pretty hard to know what to get some people.

My parents have a big blackboard in their kitchen, and we all had to write our lists on there, then you'd just search for the poerson you had to buy for and choose from their list. It helped keep it all secret (although, of course, we all work out who had us by the end!)